Mr. Lynch
A.P. Government 2016-17
Advanced Placement America Government
Overview and Guidelines
Introduction
This course deals with the workings of the United States Government. The course is designed to increase awareness and comprehension of the policies that our government produces and enacts. The course will be both demanding and exciting, but most of all will prepare you for the Advanced Placement Test on Tuesday May 10th
Course Objectives
· To develop an appreciation for the complexity of American Government
· To heighten the ability to see the relationships and distinctions in the modern American political system
· To develop an awareness of the American political system within the context of world politics
Student Objectives
· To develop knowledge of the general structure of the American political system as set out in most college textbooks
· To develop the ability to see the facts of politics in context, distinguish courses of movements or trends, establish causes, results, and significance
· To read political materials in a discriminating way and to write and express ideas effectively
· To develop the ability to weigh evidence and reach conclusions on the basis of facts, not prejudice
Text
Edwards, Wattenberg, and Lineberry Government in America: People, Politics, and Policy. New York: Person Longman 2006
Course of Study By Unit
1. Constitutional Underpinnings
6. Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
2. Political Beliefs and Political Behaviors
3. Interest Groups and Political Parties
4. Institutions: Congress, the Presidency, the Courts, and the Bureaucracy
5. Public Policy
In your notebook, separate your notes for these units by tab dividers so that you will be organized to prepare for the A. P. Test.
General Guidelines
1. Expect nightly reading assignments. TAKE THESE SERIOUSLY! You will be “in
the dark” during the lectures and discussions if you do a poor job reading the night
before, or if you do not do the reading at all! You will also bomb the quizzes
based on the readings.
2. If you have difficulties with this class, feel free to drop by for extra help.
Academic Honesty (Bd. Pol. 5131.9)
Definition: Academic Dishonesty is a deliberate attempt to disrupt the learning process by misrepresenting another’s work as one’s own. Dishonesty during tests or classwork includes unauthorized communicating; copying materials or allowing another student to copy; using prohibited notes or devices; obtaining prior knowledge of test content; and/or removing or distributing all or part of any test. Copying another person’s assignment; providing homework/classwork for another student to replicate; plagiarizing or submitting a paper or project which is not one’s own work; and submitting falsified information for grading purposes are also examples of dishonesty.
Consequences:
First Infraction
· The teacher will conference with the student and record a zero for that assignment.
· Within five school days, the teacher will notify the parent and send a referral to the appropriate administrator noting the infraction.
· The student will be placed on contract, with the understanding that a second infraction in the same or any other class will result in the student’s removal from the course in which the second infraction occurred. The contract will remain in effect for two years from the date of infraction.
Second Infraction
· The teacher will send a referral to the appropriate administrator noting the infraction.
· Within five school days, the parent will be notified, and the student will be removed from the course and placed in a Study Hall with a failing grade for the semester.
Your semester grade will be determined by your performance on the following:
A. There will be a test for each unit covered in class and the text: this test will consist of a one day 60 multiple choice section and a one day free-response section. Each Test will total 120 points for a grand total of 540 test points
B. There will be various reading quizzes and vocabulary tests. These will be anywhere between 10 to 50 points and will occur about one to two times a week
C. Periodically you will be assigned study guide questions and essays with varying point values
D. 100 point Court Case Brief
E. 100 point Holiday Song Project (Sem 1 Only)
F. 240 point final exam
G. The final point total will be around 1600
Make-Ups
All make-up tests and quizzes must be done at lunch, 1st or 6th period within 3 days of the assignment. Also, you must arrange the make-up with me; I will not bug you or tell you to make-up a missed test. After 3 days the missed work becomes a zero. PLEASE NOTE THIS POLICY!
I look forward to a fun and challenging year and I hope that it will be as meaningful for you to take, as it will for me to teach.
Tear Hear and return to Mr. Lynch by Friday August 26, 2016
Student sign:
I have read and understand all of the guidelines and will do my best to prepare for the AP Government test in May.
Parent/Guardian sign:
I have read and understand all of the guidelines for my child and will do my best to help them be successful this school year.
C:\Users\mlynch\Documents\Mike 2\Ap Government\2015\APUSG Syllabus 2016.doc